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Lordhappyface13579

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Now I know there has been numerous posts about this but I haven't seen this question been asked before so please read along!

As some of us know, north American made 2019+ RAV4 gas and hybrid models don't have front tow points on the bumper. BUT Japanese made RAV4s have the front tow points on the bumper because they use it to strap it down on the ships during transport. Sooooo since RAV4 Primes are made in Japan

here is my question,

Has anyone, or has anyone seen anyone taken the front crash bar from a north American RAV4 Prime and swaped it onto a gas / hybrid for the factory tow points?

Looking on the internet it looks like the welded nuts on the JAPAN made RAV4s are on the crash bar and people over in Japan just tie right into it. Do our RAV4 Primes have the same bar? Does anyone know? Unfortunately I don't have access to a Prime so I can't figure it out myself.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I don't think there in the crash bar - there in the frame. See very first post in this thread. At least that's the way it looks to me when I look at mine - it looks like a hole in the front bumper bar and then threads in the frame.

Can you still get a new Japanese built Rav4 in the USA? Just curious.

www.rav4world.com

Tow Hook/Eyelet Help

As we all know by now, the Canadian built RAV’s don’t have the bumper covers for the towing eyelets, or eyelets at all. But, after removing my entire bumper to find where these eyelets screw in so that I can just drill through my bumper to use a basic feature, I’m at a loss. Judging by other...
www.rav4world.com www.rav4world.com
 
#3 ·
Interesting topic. My 2023 Highlander Hybrid, has the front fender pop off covers, like the RAV 4 Prime. So at delivery, I noticed no tow hook in the repair kit with jack, etc.
So we popped off one of the covers. Guess what, this US built Highlander had no threaded holes in the steel bar behind the fender. Nothing. Just these two pop off covers.
Image
 
#4 ·
#5 ·
I did not realize the difference is where it was made! My wife hit a deer about a year ago and the body shop explained to me they could not get a replacement bumper with the tow hook plugs, it had to be a smooth bumper - that was all they could get. I asked what happens when I need the front tow hooks and they are behind a solid bumper, and got blank stares. It's nicer for waxing at least.....
 
#6 ·
MX5Racer said:
I asked what happens when I need the front tow hooks and they are behind a solid bumper, and got blank stares.
Click to expand...
The north America made RAV4 (Canada and Kentucky) don't come from the factory with front tow hooks and plugs. What do you do? The same thing we do.
 
#8 ·
MX5Racer said:
Do tell-
Click to expand...
The ICE only vehicles are open on the bottom, so you can attach a hook in the tie down holes in the frame, the same holes that are supposed to get a plug in it before delivery to the customer.

But the hybrids, for aerodynamic purposes, are completely covered on the bottom with smooth, plastic panels and there are few tie down holes available, especially the front.

The only thing left on the hybrids then is the lower suspension control arm. IMO not a good point to use as a tow point due to possible damage to the CV joint or the ball joint.
 
#10 ·
skier6 said:
Well, if you put on a trailer hitch, your car can be pulled from the rear, with a hook like this. We have a trailer hitch on both our Toyota Hybrids, RAV4 and Highlander.
View attachment 203036
Click to expand...
I have that very hook on my Tahoe. Used a few times when I got my Zero Turn into a sticky wicket.
 
#11 ·
FKHeath said:
What you see on the outside is the plastic bumper cover. Behind the bumper cover is the real bumper, usually an tough aluminum bar. I think they were referring to that bumper bar as the "crash bar". 2019-2023 TOYOTA RAV4 RAV 4 REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT RE BAR IMPACT BAR OEM 19 | eBay
Click to expand...
The nut is spot welded it looks like in the sub frame, through a round hole in the actual bumper (call it what you want) that is behind the square holes in the bumper cover. Its not in the "crash bar" or whatever you wish to call the actual metal bumper you don't see.

See post number 51, which I made back in 2019 - for pictures. Which is the same thread I posted earlier. https://www.rav4world.com/threads/tow-hook-eyelet-help.300082/page-3
 
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